What if Iran prefers to live peacefully?
May 25, 2021, 12:54 pm

khalid Aljasir

What if Iran prefers to live peacefully? Our 20th article is an ode to all peace-loving people who have extended their hand to the Iranian Regime, most recently Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Needless to say, Iran has grown accustomed to sneaking through the back door and hijacking Arab issues through its agents by spreading chaos and violence, stirring sectarian wars, and supporting armed militias against those nations' governments. Iran attacked Arab justice with the Palestinian issue in its use of false and disgraced slogans that aimed at playing with the hearts of Arabs and Muslims.

Not to mention, its terrorist militias that have invaded our Arab world in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq, and the occupation of the Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, and the Islands of United Arab Emirates. Hence, demonstrating Iran's ethnocentrism, which is even directed at its crumpling country and people. Iran's behavior illustrates a desire to transform its regional influence from a medium regional power to an influential player in the region. This behavior Consequently, raised legitimate concerns from the United States of America and other regional powers.

What if Iran co-existed? The ethnocentrism of the Iranian Regime, which is working hard to marginalize the Palestinian issue, made Iran no different from the racist state occupying Palestine. Instead, it is on a path of rivalry to dominate the lands and resources of a nation in a state of weakness. The so-called 'Arabic spring' uprisings have yielded the Palestinian people into further despair, which made the Palestinian issue into a bargaining chip used for the Persian ambitions against Arab countries and nations. Although its agents, like some leaders of Palestinian factions, such as Hamas, Jihad, and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, see Iran as their advocate, they are mistaken as Iran is responsible for the killing and displacement of Muslim Sunnis in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

What if Iran co-existed? The dilemma of its regional behavior is becoming most violent without an international deterrent or any possible fallout from Biden's sleeping diplomacy. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Khamenei confirming "Tehran's commitment to supporting its allies in the Middle East," and that its regional presence is a necessity that must be and will continue, is a farce as Iran still refuses to abandon its missile program and has not abided to the nuclear agreement since 2018. The Iranian regime boasted that its program "forced Iran's enemies to think twice," showcasing another example of the contradictory positions of Iran's terrorist behavior. Every nation in our world has made Iran's behavior not only a concern but also their utmost priority. At the forefront of those nations and global powers are the United States as Iran's possession of nuclear weapons leads to a global imbalance and an ill-advised nuclear race in the region.

What if Iran co-existed? Iran's massive deficit crisis is ravaging its budget. The lack of transparency of its financial operations at the Central Bank of Iran resulted in its blacklisting by the FATF (Financial Action Task Force). This, consequently, encouraged the Central Bank of Iran and the Iranian Government to pursue more illegal methods of operating financial and commercial markets in order to cause further destruction through the armament of its agents against our nations. Iran seems to be unmindful of the many Palestinian revolutionary groups, who claimed to serve the Palestinian issue using terrorist groups and parties in several countries. These groups then vanished. Thus, exposing the reality of those regimes. When Teheran accomplishes its objectives, the same will happen.

PY: Khalid bin Abdul Karim Al-Jasir

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.